Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent Endorses Issue 21: Kent Community Bill of Rights

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent held a formal congregational vote on Sunday to pass the following resolution in favor of endorsing the Kent Community Bill of Rights, Issue 21 on the November 4 ballot. The resolution was passed by the necessary 85% super-majority of the necessary quorum of members.

WHEREAS, Unitarian Universalist congregations covenant by our Second and Seventh Principles to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations and respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part; and

WHEREAS, the climate crisis threatens Earth systems through warming, destabilization of the atmosphere and climate, sea level rise, and the acidification of the oceans, of which the brunt of the burden has fallen and will fall on the poorest people in the world, who are least responsible for the crisis; and

WHEREAS, the 2006 Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) General Assembly approved a Statement of Conscience on the Threat of Global Warming/Climate Change declaring “that we will not acquiesce to the ongoing degradation and destruction of life that human actions are leaving to our children and grandchildren”; and

WHEREAS, we have a moral responsibility to Earth, to all beings, and to future generations to do everything in our power to bring about a swift transition from fossil fuels to a sustainable energy economy; and

WHEREAS, a significant body of evidence has emerged to demonstrate that hydraulic fracturing and injection wells are inherently dangerous to people and their communities. Risks include adverse impacts on water, air, agriculture, public health and safety, property values, climate stability and economic vitality; and

WHEREAS, the Community Bill of Rights will allow residents to prevent the extraction of hydrocarbons and the drilling of injection wells within Kent and will assert individual rights over those of corporations;

WHEREAS, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent required a super-majority passage of 85% congregational approval in order to speak with one voice in support of this resolution.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent supports the passage of Issue 21: Kent Charter Amendment (Community Bill of Rights) on November 4th, 2014.